New Arrivals, Great Goodies

Got lots of cute pink/brown travel systems, plus a precious red and pink one too (there's a pic of this one below!); Also have a few walkers, a musical winnie the pooh one $26, and a 2-in-1 one for $26; but also have 4 cheaper ones that are a little more basic for $20 to $16; A cute Eddie Bauer Pack & Play with a mobile, music and a night light $35; Also some Exersaucers, Bumbos, and a Jeep Side by Side Double Stroller for $38.50, An aquarium 2 way cradle swing and a few more swings too, including precious Graco Brown/Pink one with mobile....

I could've got more out...

I love the movie Schindler's List. In my opinion it is one of the best movies ever, right up there with To Kill A Mockingbird. I love it because it shows that even amongst the most extreme evil, there is still good at work. To understand what's going on, Mr. Schindler creates a "business" where he needs workers and he buys these workers for his factory by bribing various ppl in the Nazi heiarcy. In essence he buys these ppls lives, because their job at the factory saves them from facing death in the concentration camps. My favorite part of the movie, where I always find myself drenched in tears follows.

Stern (one of Schindler's workers) steps forward and places a ring in Schindler's hand. It's a gold band, like a wedding ring. They created the ring from gold that came from fillings in their teeth and various other means. Schindler notices an inscription inside it.

STERN: It's Hebrew. It says, 'Whoever saves one life saves the world.'

Schindler slips the ring onto a finger, admires it a moment, nods his thanks, then seems to withdraw.

SCHINDLER: (to himself) I could've got more out...

SCHINDLER: (to himself) I could've got more... if I'd just... I don't know, if I'd just... I could've got more...

STERN: Oskar, there are twelve hundred people who are alive because of you. Look at them.

SCHINDLER: If I'd made more money... I threw away so much money, you have no idea. If I'd just...

STERN: There will be generations because of what you did.

SCHINDLER: I didn't do enough.

It always moves me.... stirs me deep within. It's the point where I stopped throwing obscene amounts of God's money away at retail stores. And that instead of the days where I'd go get my hair cut and colored 4 times a year for $125 a pop, I cut back to just twice a year and really not even that. I remember so clearly getting dressed one day looking in the mirror taking an hour to put on make up and fix my hair just right and I almost became ashamed of myself as it was vanity in a way I had never seen it before. There was a time when I spent more time on dressing myself than I did on praying and talking to God. Where I would spend $85 on a pair of jeans and not even give it a thought.

But then it washed over me, all of this and people are still dying. And when I die, will Jesus say, "Jill, I blessed you with money and a good mind and a body which could work, and you spent it all on you and yours." I know many well-meaning, good christians who would say, "God wants us to enjoy what he's given us." Of course, of course he does, I'd never argue that. But I get tired of "fluffy lovey lovey" stuff all the time. Jesus was hard-core and I want to be that way. And I want to find ppl who believe that way because I need them to raise the bar in my life. I want to be challenged and I just don't want to think that I was buying even a $40 shirt and people are starving bc they have no money. This all came back to me today as I was on the eliptical trainer watching some advertisement thing where they were showing children in Africa STARVING... not just hungry but starving.... tears streamed down, not bc I pitied them, but because I am ashamed that I have forgotten the things that God had once revealed to me so clearly.

And today, I recommit to being less me focused and more kingdom focused. I commit to spending more time in prayer, and using ALL of the resources God has given to me wisely... God has given us everything and so many of us make excuses not to tithe or do what God places on our heart but today, I'm going to work towards that tenacity and perseverance that the disciples talk about. I want to truly be more like Jesus. I don't want to settle and I don't want to appease myself with halftruths... because the truth of the matter is, is that we are building up his kingdom or we are tearing it down. Father God, thank you for revelations in my life, thank you that you have different revelations and standards for us all, and no one can decide the path another should take... thank you for your word in Ecclesiastes that says "There is a greivous evil that I have seen under the sun: riches were kept by their owner to his hurt." ... I don't wanna be that way Father God.... mold me, change me, make things clear. Amen

bad morning.

today has not started off the way i would have liked. i got up early, left the house at a respectable 6am to workout, drive across town and no freaking access card. i put it in my purse. didn't use my purse, so why isn't it in there??? no idea, so i try to make the best of things, i go walking at mcneese and already i am whining to God. yes i shed tears bc my card wasn't in my purse. why wouldn't i? it's one of the few things that i do, that i love! i planned, i prepared, i put my clothes out the night before. i grabbed my water bottle and my towel and still things couldn't go the way i wanted them to. ouch that hurts.

I am home by 7:30am, still plenty of time for me to turn out that paper due for my class this a.m.

i try to login to blackboard through msu's website and i can't get the site to work. i have tried off and on all night, finally i figure out a way to access blackboard without going through msu. YAY i still have time, i can still do this...

oh goodie, the extra meeting I had with a prof yesterday to MAKE SURE I was enrolled in BB was useless bc it didn't work. so there is no possible way i can do my homework or print out the 20+ pages or so i need today for class.

this is one of those mornings where i totally want to be irresponsible and tell mcneese to shove their freaking degree and certification. i am so tired of battling that place and i know God has allowed me to linger there forever so i can learn patience and to abide in him. but have you ever been at that point where you think "i just can't stand it another day." i hate it all, i hate boring 3 hour classes, i hate the parking, i hate busy work, i hate that they spend $8million on the jocks new workout place or whatever and i can't freaking login to a system that i need to be able to do my HOMEWORK. i hate paying outrageous fees, i hate having to email 4 different ppl to get one answer! i try NOT to hate it, I try NOT to complain about it, but I HATE THAT PLACE and I want to just YELL it at someone, or something. but even if i did, nothing will ever change.

father god, i am all messed up inside this morning and i don't want to be. i don't want to be frustrated, i don't want to feel like this. i don't want to care if I fail this class. and i don't want to feel crappy bc i am whining about working out and mcneese, when i know there are far worse things in this world, i want to not care about worldly things. i feel like i've given up so much, can you please just show me favor here? can u please just change my heart? please...

Whining to Jesus

So this morning when I left the house, I was listening to AirOne... Earlier this week I had prayed for God to crucify my flesh from earthly things, and WOW I was immediately bombarded with these crazy things. UGH, double UGH! Something I really wanted to happen didn't; something I had worked crazy hard for; just didn't pan out the way I wanted it to... And there it is that empty feeling; and I hate it.

So this time I sort of get it; I know that satan knows how I feel about accomplishing things and that I am works oriented. And that my mind loses sight of order and place sometimes and I lose my head and think that I can do things in and of my own self... And when I have literally POURED MYSELF out and I get the RESULTS that I have WORKED for but what I want to happen doesn't happen I'm left feeling pretty empty and worthless.

But this morning; while I had tears welling up in my eyes, just whining my heart out to Jesus, He just simply reminded me of something: Jill, if I want you to have something, you will and if I don't want you to have something you won't. So just TRUST ME! I'm such a fool sometimes, I know to TRUST GOD... Truly I know that. And my heart DESIRES big things; mountains to move actually... And I always wonder how I will get from where I am to literally seeing mountains move, but I guess this is the process, pray and put my faith in the ONLY ONE who has NEVER FAILED ME...

I wish things would be easier, I wish that I knew exactly what God's calling is on my life... In my heart I can feel myself just singing,"If you lead me God, I will follow, if you lead my Lord I will go, come and heal me God, I will follow...."

Jack & Jill's Resale; Fabulous Things!

Just got in a precious summer style LSU dress w/bloomers in size 6mo... cute plaid one pc outfits for a boy size 18mo, adorable RL Polo & Gymboree one piece rompers in size 6/12mo; and lots of other stuff too...Also got in an awesome Little Tikes Red/Yellow Grocery Cart, a Step 2 Ride on Motorcycle and sweet, little bassinet style rocker for an 18 inch doll, and lots of other great things!

Oh, and I have a gaggle of Medium and Large Maternity clothes that I'll be putting out today and Monday!

Hope you get a chance to swing by and take a peek! Thanks so much for our wonderful customers; been trying to keep up, but you guys keep us BUSY!!!

NEW GOODIES I wanted to share!

Just in ~ lots of Great things!
Powerwheels Barbie Pink Jeep with charger and working battery $30 (retail is $75)
5 Pack and Plays in the store right now
Little People Sets
Vtech toys and games
Leap Frog activity tables
Barbie Piano
Nice Cherry Wood Changing Table
2 Pink and 1 Purple Bumbo
Lots of baby boy 3/6mo Gap just came in
Girls 3T dresses
PediPeds (like brand new small sz)
Rainforest High Chair
Natures Touch Cradle Swing
Small Rocking Horses and lots and lots more :)

Now my apologies for my regular customers. Those of you who come by every week, I know you know I have been slacking on my store responsibilities. My sincerest apologies as I still have not mastered the art of being in 2 places at once and with the mission trip to Nicaragua, finals, still teaching in Vinton and 4 kids, I wasn't able to be up at the store as much after hours pricing things and getting things together. Back in full work mode now... hope to see you soon .... Peace and Blessings...

How Jack & Jill's Exchange Works

Lots of peeps are wanting to bring in items & clothes... So I just wanted to go over how it works and give you a heads up as to how I decide how much credit I give etc.... All I ask is you don't waste my time, if you read through all this and follow our criteria then hopefully your time won't be wasted either.

#1. Items must be CLEAN, and free of STAINS, RIPS, TEARS or excessive wear... if you DRYER burn your clothes, then I can not use them. If I start going through your items and the first 4 or 5 items have stains, then I put them back in the bag... & move on to someone elses. I literally work 10 to 12 hours everyday, so I don't have time looking thru 30+ items to find 2 or 3 good ones & I would NOT EXPECT anyone to do that for me, it's selfish.

#2. In-season Namebrand items take precedence... I don't particularly like to store out of season items but I will. I don't give as much credit for out of season items.

#3. I am pretty up to date on tags & what years items were sold in the store... a five yr old gymboree or gap item is not valued the same as last seasons... I hope that makes sense...

#4. Things that are as long as they are wide, look awkward. So if the item has shrunk considerably, I can't use it.

#5. NO MISSING buttons or snaps. NO cigarette smoke. People do not like their newborn babies or children smelling like smoke... Tide febreeze does a good job of taking that smell out, if you do happen to smoke, it may help.

When I decide on a price, I consider retail price, the amt of wear on an item (Fading, wash/wear, quality &resale value).... I try to be generous especially if your items are hangar ready and i do not have to wash them (if I seen animal hair, or pick up an odd smell I wash them!), but we do have to make some sort of profit... my building, elec, water, and workers run me nearly $2K a month...+ I do buy items NOT clothes, so after the $2800 I spend a mo., anything left over is profit. Currently I tithe about $350 of it to church, pay KLOVE radio station $30 a mo, go on mission trips, put together Christmas & Thanksgiving baskets etc. So your investment in our store almost always goes back to the community... I am blessed to do what I love & glorify God so that makes it worth it!

On clothes I ONLY give credit, on big items, these days it is mostly credit, sometimes I can give cash/credit for big items if they are in superb condition and quick sellers. It sort of depends on demand of the item. Thanks so much, peace...